Five things to watch for college hoops season

Oct. 8, 2012
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With Cody Zeller in the middle for Indiana, the Hoosiers -- along with Louisville and Kentucky -- could be the center of the college basketball universe for the 2012-13 season. / Richard Mackson, US Presswire

by Eric Prisbell and Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell and Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

Any reference to a geographical triangle usually brings to mind the Research Triangle in North Carolina. Make no mistake, North Carolina and Duke will be Final Four contenders once again. And North Carolina State, fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance and the recruitment of three McDonald's All-Americans, is well positioned to win its first ACC regular season title since 1989. There also are off-court issues at Duke and North Carolina. Investigations continue into a widening academic scandal that has ensnared the entire university at North Carolina. And at Duke, the NCAA is investigating an allegation that Lance Thomas may have received an improper loan from a jeweler in December 2009.

That said, the triangle connecting Bloomington, Ind., Lexington, Ky., and Louisville is where the best basketball will be found this season. Indiana, Kentucky and Louisville are all strong national championship contenders. The Hoosiers' Cody Zeller might be the nation's best overall player. Louisville returns Peyton Siva, Russ Smith and a healthy Wayne Blackshear. And the only thing Coach John Calipari knows how to do at Kentucky is reload: A star-studded crop of freshmen, led by shot blocker extraordinaire Nerlens Noel, bolsters the Wildcats' hopes of repeating as national champions.

2. What is the nation's best conference?

The Big East will get a lot of respect, and rightfully so, before Syracuse and Pittsburgh take off for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. The ACC is top-heavy but lacks depth. The Southeastern Conference is stronger and deeper than most expect. The Pac-12 is, if nothing else, improved. And the loss of Missouri hurts the Big 12.

But this debate should have a clear answer this season: the Big Ten, whose strength compensates for its lack of strength in football this year. With Deshaun Thomas and league defensive player of the year Aaron Craft, enough talent remains at Ohio State to give the Buckeyes a strong chance to return to the Final Four. Michigan has one of the nation's best starting backcourts with Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. Michigan State won't be far from the top of the standings. Pencil in Wisconsin and Minnesota as two well-coached NCAA tournament teams. Did we forget anyone? Oh, yeah, Indiana is the class of the league with a strong core returning plus the addition of McDonald's All-American Yogi Ferrell.

3. What's the most fascinating story line entering the season?

This is a potential boom-or-bust season for UCLA coach Ben Howland. At full strength, enough talent exists for the Bruins to return to prominence after not reaching the NCAA tournament's second weekend since 2008. But the question is how much of a stellar recruiting class will be eligible, and when.

Freshman forward Tony Parker was ruled eligible last month, but the fates of touted Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson remain in limbo as the NCAA investigates their amateur status. At issue for Muhammad is that a financial advisor and family friend admittedly paid for a few of his unofficial visits during the recruiting process. The focus of the Anderson inquiry involves his relationship with a sports agent, CBSSports.com reported. UCLA has missed the NCAA tournament in two of the past three seasons. And Howland's control of the program was the focus of a lengthy Sports Illustrated expos√® last season. He has a chance to lift the Bruins to national contenders again this season, but he will need his full complement of recruits to do so. And if the Bruins fall flat, Howland's job security will be a popular question come March.

4. What players outside the power conferences are worth watching?

Start with Creighton's Doug McDermott and Lehigh's C.J. McCollum, both of whom have a chance to be first-team All-Americans. And though his team likely will take a small step backward this season, guard Isaiah Canaan's decision to return to school makes Murray State formidable once again.

At North Texas, big man Tony Mitchell should dominate the Sun Belt competition and most other players he faces. South Dakota State's Nate Wolters has attracted something of a cult following for his ability to score against any level of competition. San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin was one of the nation's most improved players last season. And UNLV has imposing forwards Mike Moser and heralded recruit Anthony Bennett, two stars bringing back memories of the Jerry Tarkanian days a couple decades ago.

5. How has conference realignment affected college basketball?

College football and the money associated with it triggered wave after wave of conference realignment, but that doesn't mean college basketball wasn't affected. Two familiar NCAA tournament darlings ‚?? Butler and Virginia Commonwealth ‚?? jumped up to the Atlantic 10 from the Horizon League and the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Bulldogs and Rams, who faced each other in the 2011 Final Four, immediately boost the profile of the A-10 as they join Saint Louis, Saint Joseph's and Temple in a very talented league.

Missouri and Texas A&M will make their Southeastern Conference debuts this season, and Missouri won't play Kansas in the Border War for the first time since 1908. Some other rivalry games ‚?? like Syracuse-Georgetown ‚?? will be on their last legs as 2012-13 also marks the final season for Syracuse and Pittsburgh in the Big East before they leave for the Atlantic Coast Conference. (West Virginia has already departed for the Big 12; Notre Dame is also leaving the Big East for the ACC, but it remains unclear when that will happen.)

Enjoy the last season of Syracuse-Georgetown and other Big East rivalries before the conference's complexion changes dramatically. Next fall, the Big East will add Memphis, Temple, Southern Methodist, Houston and Central Florida.